Cover for leaf springs



Dec. 22, 1925 1,566,930

D; H. THURBER COVER FOR LEAF SPRINGS Filed Nov. 28, 192s Evmii'o'rZUZThuflmr Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED sra'res PATENT QF'HQE.

DONALD H. THURBER, OF WATERTOW'N', MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MELVIN J.BEAN, OF NATIGK, MASSACHUSETTS.

COVER FOR LEAF SPRINGS.

Application filed November 28, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DONALD H. THURBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at 'Watertown, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts. have invented new and useful Improvements in Covers forLeaf Springs, of which the following is a specification.

For proper action it is quite important that leaf springs such as areused on vehicles shall be Well lubricated so that the individual leavesmay slide smoothly on each other as the spring is flexed. As thesesprings are positioned Where they are exposed to dirt and water it isdifficult to maintain them in proper condition.

This invention, therefore, provides a readily attachable and detachablecover for protecting the springs from the access of dirt and water andit is so constructed as to furnish a casing about the spring for thereception of lubricant, such as grease, which is held thereby inconstant contact with the several leaves so that it finds its way between them as they are flexed, insuring proper lubrication and entirefreedom from rust or other obstruction to their free action.

Beside a construction which furnishes a lubricant-receiving pocket aboutthe spring, the cover is also so constructed as to permit it to be lacedin position about the spring in a manner to insure a close joint betweenthe mating edges so that the escape of lubricant and entry of foreignmatter is prevented.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentaryperspective of a leaf spring showing the cover applied thereto andpartly laced in position, the unlaced portion being opened up to bettershow its construction.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan of the same showing the cover fully applied.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan showing one end of the cover fully openedout.

Figures 4- and 5 are sections on lines H and 55, respectively, of Figure3.

The cover comprises a main portion or piece 1 preferably of flexiblematerial waterproofed at least on one side. The material known asmoleskin is quite satisfactory for this purpose. thi material having onewater- Serial No. 677,409.

proof face and a felt backing on the opposite face. The felt backing isto be positioned toward the spring and furn shes a holding medium toreceive the lubricant to present it to the leaves of the spring. Theends of the piece 1 are inwardly turned. as shown at 2 in Figure 5, andembracing the inwardly turned end is a strip 3 of felt, or othersuitable material, bent thereover and made fast thereto as by stitchingshown at 4. This construction furnishes an end rib projecting from theinner face of the strip 1 which may engage about the spring to retainthe intermediate portions of the piece out of contact with the springand form a pocket for lubricant therearound, the spring projectingthrough the pocket at either end, the ribs forming in effect stuffingboxes through which the spring passes.

The sides of the piece 1 are also inwardly turned as shown at 5 andthrough the double layer of material formed thereby are inserted lacingfasteners. As shown these comprise hooks 6. The width of the piece is soproportioned that it may be wrapped about the leaf spring with the edgefolds 7 brought into abutting relation. In order to close the jointbetween the'edge folds a supplemental flap or strip 8 is stitched at oneend as 9 to the inner edge portion of one of the edge folds and is ofsufiicient width to bridge under the joint between the edge folds andunderlying the other edge fold. This flap, therefore, forms a sealacross the joint to retain the lubricant within the pocket and preventthe entrance of foreign matter thereto when the cover is wrappd aboutthe spring, as shown in Figure 1. A lacing 10 is engaged with theopposite rows of lacing hooks 6 to retain the cover in position on thespring.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should beevident that many changes anfb modifications nmy be made therein withoutdeparting from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. A device of the class described comprising a piece offlexible material constructed to be wrapped about a spring intermediateits ends. said piece having its edges where the spring emerges therefromturned inwardly, and a strip of material folded over said inwardlyturned edges and made fast lllll thereto to space the piece from saidspring to form a pocket for lubricant surrounding said spring.

2. A device of the class described compris-r ing a piece of flexiblematerial, constructed to be Wrapped about a spring intermediate itsends, the end edges of said piece Where the spring emerges therefrombeing inward- 1y turned and a strip of felt folded about- 10 eachinwardly turned edge and stitched thereto to form a thickened ribclosely embracing said spring and spacing said piece therefrom and meansfor fastening the side edges of said piece to form a closed joint, theWhole forming a lubricant-receiving pocket throughwhich said springpasses.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

DONALD I-I. THUR'BER.

